Conditional balance management for non-issuer debit instruments

ABSTRACT

A computer receives information about a debit account controlled by a third-party issuer, a user owing the account and instructions for managing the account after a specified trigger date. Operating according the instructions, an unknown remaining balance in the account may be exhausted after the trigger date has passed, using a sequence of charges responsive to the initial balance, to the last charge amount completed or attempted, and to whether or not the last charge amount is accepted. In the alternative, or in addition, the account may be managed to convert the remaining balance to a non-monetary coupon (e.g., “virtual currency”) for use in an online computer game or the like, after the trigger date.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a divisional of U.S. application Ser. No.13/075,154, filed Mar. 29, 2011, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,311,940, whichclaims priority pursuant to 35 U.S.C. §119(e) to U.S. provisionalapplication Ser. No. 61/318,533 filed Mar. 29, 2010, which applicationsare hereby incorporated by reference, in their entireties.

BACKGROUND

1. Field

The present disclosure relates to managing a credit balance in a debitaccount, and more particularly to conditional balance exhaustion and/orconversion of debit accounts under the control of another entity.

2. Description of Related Art

The market for pre-paid credit cards and debit cards has grownexponentially over the past decades. One of the most popular gifts is astore credit or Visa™, Mastercard™, or American Express™ brandedpre-loaded credit card, which is linked to an issuer-controlled debitaccount. The debit account is provided with an initial fixed balancetypically equal to, or related to, an initial purchase price for thecard. Purchases may be made up to the remaining debit balance in theaccount, but are refused if the purchase exceeds the remaining balance.It is often difficult or inconvenient for non-issuers, includingconsumers and retailers, to determine the debit balance at anyparticular time. Consequently, after using the card for some purchaseless than the initial debit balance, the remaining debit balance may situnused and eventually be forgotten by the card holder.

Card issuers may endeavor to profit from these forgotten unused debitbalances, to the detriment of the debit card holders. For example, acommon business model among issuers of pre-paid credit cards is tocharge some fee upon issuance, and to charge a maintenance fee billedagainst the unused balance and/or to forfeit any unused balance at theend of the card's term, all while enjoying the interest-free “float” onthe balance. Similarly, the prevailing business model for store-only“gift” cards is to enjoy the “float” and void the balance after someperiod of time. Different jurisdictions have regulated and, in somecases, prohibited portions of this business model. Even where voidingthe balance is prohibited and maintenance fees are prohibited, billionsof dollars of value nonetheless are never used and, as a practicalmatter, are forfeited through such non-use.

Because of the disparity between regulations for prepaid credit cardsand prepaid store gift cards, consumers are often met with the hardchoice of giving a more broadly useful prepaid credit card, or giving astore gift card subject to fewer forfeiture risks.

The current regulatory regime in the United States varies by state andis subject to change. For example, as of 2010 in California, noexpiration dates or fees are permitted except for a $1 monthly fee forreloadable cards with a balance of $5 or less when the card has beenunused for 24 months. Further, any card with a cash value of $10 or lessmay be redeemed for cash. In comparison, as of 2010, Florida prohibitedexpiration dates or fees except for cards linked to bank accounts usablewith multiple unaffiliated merchants. A federal law will prohibitexpiration for 5 years, but permits fees after 12 months. To avoidunfavorable regulations, issuers of debit cards may set up subsidiariesin states whose laws are more favorable and then export the cards foruse in states with regulations less favorable for the card issuer. Forexample, one issue of great concern to issuers is having unused balancesfall under abandoned property law and escheat to the state. Issuers mayavoid jurisdictions which do not permit the issuers to recapture atleast a portion of abandoned debit balances.

Notwithstanding regulations on debit card issuer conduct regardingunused debit account balances, consumers and other non-issuers of debitaccounts such as debit cards often experience difficulties in recoveringunused credit balances that are under the control of an issuer that isunwilling or unable to refund the unused balance in a convenient manner.Technological solutions that do not depend on the cooperation of thedebit account issuer to report or refund an unused debit balance are notpresently available.

SUMMARY

Certain useful, novel, and non-obvious improvements over the prior artmethods of handling unused credit balances in payment cards aredisclosed herein. The disclosure includes technological solutions toenable consumers and other non-issuers of debit accounts such as debitcards to conveniently recapture a greater portion of unused creditbalances, even when such balances are under the control of an issuerthat is unwilling or unable to simply refund the unused balance in aconvenient manner. These solutions do not depend on the cooperation ofthe debit account issuer to take any actions for a refund of an unusedbalance.

In an aspect, the present technology includes registering an identifierfor a debit account controlled by a third-party issuer and having anauthorized user, and an associated future date in a database, using atleast one computer. For example, using an online user interface, a usermay register a debit card issued by “Bank A” with a separate servicecompany operating the interface, by entering the card number, issuer,and any security information needed for charging the debit card in asales transaction, user account information such as name, address, andcontact information, and a future date for exhausting any debit balanceremaining on the card. Then, the computer or another computer may beused for automatically monitoring a current date, using at least onecomputer, to determine when the future date equals the current date.Then, in response to determining that the future date equals the currentdate, the computer may be used for automatically charging the accountusing at least one charge transaction for a remaining balance amountthat substantially exhausts the debit balance of the debit account. Inresponse to automatically charging the account for the remaining balanceamount, the computer may initiate a payment transaction for an amountcomputed using the remaining balance amount according to paymentinstructions received from the authorized user.

In an aspect, automatically charging the account further comprises theat least one charge transaction as a sequence of charges for diminishingamounts. This may be done when the card issuer will not report aremaining card balance to entity having the responsibility for depletingthe remaining balance. The sequence of charges may be determined basedon the initial balance, for example as a sequence of halves. Forexample, given an initial balance in the amount of “B”, the sequence maybe ½B, ¼B, ⅛B, and so forth, rounded to the nearest penny or othersmallest available monetary unit, until the amount charged is less thesmallest available monetary unit. Other diminishing sequences may alsobe used; for example, B; 99*B/100; 98*B/100 etc. In the alternative, orin addition, a fixed or increasing sequence may be used until a chargeis refused, followed by declining amounts after a refusal; for example,B/10, B/10, B/10 until a charge is declined; after a decline a smallerfraction of B such as B/20, B/20, and so forth. The underlying principalis that the charge amount is not related to a current balance of thedebit account, which is unknown. Instead, it is related to the initialbalance reported by the user and to the last charge amount, depending onwhether or not the last charge amount is accepted by the account issuer.

In another aspect, the present technology includes managing a debitbalance according to a currency conversion feature. After a terminationdate, any remaining balance may be converted to a virtual currencywithout any definite termination date or forfeiture. Acomputer-implemented method according to the currency conversiontechnology may include creating an account record in a computer memorydevice on a first date, using at least one computer, wherein the accountrecord defines a debit balance expressed in a monetary currency unit.The method may further comprise maintaining a record of a definedexchange rate between the monetary currency unit and a correspondingnon-monetary coupon unit in a computer memory device, using at least onecomputer. The method may further comprise using at least one computerresponsive to current value of the defined exchange rate to maintain adebit balance in the account record responsive to monetary currencytransactions and to non-monetary coupon transactions, until apredetermined second date falling after the first date. The method mayfurther comprise, beginning on the second date, using at least onecomputer to maintain a debit balance in the account record responsiveonly to non-monetary coupon transactions and not to monetary currencytransactions. Therefore the user may receive the benefit of theremaining account balance only in the non-monetary coupon, after thesecond date.

A more complete understanding of the method and system for conditionalbalance management for non-issuer debt instruments will be afforded tothose skilled in the art, as well as a realization of additionaladvantages and objects thereof, by a consideration of the followingdetailed description of the preferred embodiment. Reference will be madeto the appended sheets of drawings which will first be describedbriefly.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a flow diagram showing a method for conditional balanceexhaustion of a third-party issued account.

FIG. 2 is a flow diagram showing a method for managing a debit balancein an account according to a virtual currency conversion feature.

FIG. 3 is a system diagram illustrating an example of system includingone or more components for performing methods as described herein.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a registration account record.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating a debit account record.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating an example of an apparatus forperforming a method according to FIG. 1.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating an example of an apparatus forperforming a method according to FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present disclosure provides a system, apparatus and method formanaging handling unused credit balances in payment card. The presenttechnological solutions enable consumers and other non-issuers of debitaccounts to conveniently recapture a greater portion of unused creditbalances, even when such balances are under the control of an issuerthat is unwilling or unable to simply refund the unused balance in aconvenient manner. These solutions do not depend on the cooperation ofthe debit account issuer to take any actions for a refund of an unusedbalance, or even to disclose a remaining balance.

In general, the method disclosed herein may be implemented using cardreading devices, merchant terminals, computer servers, data storagehardware, communications hardware, and related hardware and software tocarry out the actions and operation described herein. A central serveror servers may be programmed using software encoded in acomputer-readable media to perform certain essential steps causingimplementation of the method at the server or through a system ofinterconnected hardware implementing the payment card system.

A payment card is encoded with a unique identifier, which may beencrypted as known in the art. The card may be offered for sale andpurchased or exchanged for a promised face value. For example, anindividual may purchase a card with a $100 face value for $100, orreceive the card in lieu of a $100 cash rebate. In a one implementation,a card purchaser (either the original purchaser or the final recipient)registers the card by providing the identifier to an entity that tracksthe card using a computer server or servers, herein called a trackingserver. The tracking server may receive and record all of theinformation necessary to make charges against the card (for example,with a Visa card, the card number and if needed any expiration date,CVV2 number, and/or PIN), using a computer database. In addition, thetracking computer also receives and records, or generates and records, adate on which the card is to be converted into cash or some other thingof value. The card identifier may be associated with an algorithm forhandling unused balances after the recorded date, according to theinitial transaction terms and conditions.

For illustrative purposes, imagine that Grandma Riding wants to give hergranddaughter, Red, a prepaid Visa card on Jan. 1, 2010. The card isissued in California and the card issuer provides that an up-front feeis charged (so the $100 gift card costs $105 at the store), and furthersubject to the condition that is the balance drops below $5 then remainsuntouched for 24 months, it will be reduced by $1 per month. California,under Title 2, Subchapter 8, of its Administrative Code, takes theposition that an unused balance over $5 will escheat to the state at aset point in time. Red gets the card and realizes that she is likely touse most of it but then forget to finish using it. For example, shemight make a $97 purchase but then be unable to figure out how to cleanthe last $3 off the card as partial payment of another purchase. Shealso realizes she might lose the card or simply forget to use it. Shedecides to register the card with an entity called “Invention Company”providing conditional balance exhaustion as described herein. TheInvention Company operates a transaction server and database incommunication with a transaction system used for clearing transactionsmade using the card, as known in the art.

Red therefore provides the card information online to Invention Co.'sserver and enters into agreement whereby the Invention Company (or itsagent) is authorized to clear the balance of the card on a specifieddate, for example, Dec. 31, 2010. Invention Company does nothing untilDec. 31, 2010. On that date, using its transaction server, itautomatically submits a charge for the full original balance of the card(or some other predetermined amount) via the applicable transactionsystem. If that charge is denied, the transaction server generates andsubmits a charge for a reduced amount, for example, 50% of the balance;if the lesser charge is denied then the server submits a charge for astill lesser amount, e.g. 25% of the balance, and so forth, until thetransaction server successfully completes a charge. If, for example, theserver retrieves $25 when trying for 25% of the balance, it then knowsthat between $0 and $24.99 remain on the card (having failed to charge$50 previously). It then repeats the process to retrieve a remainingamount between $0.01 and $24.99. This process is repeated until the fullbalance of the card is reduced to zero, or to some number less than aspecified minimum threshold. In other preferred implementations, thecard issuer is required or asked to provide the balance so it may becharged with precision, to refund the balance directly, or the remainingbalance is encoded on the card or retrievable via a network or othercommunications connection, and charged. The Invention Co provides Redwith a check, bank transfer or other payment for the amount charged tothe card using Invention Co's server (or a new card is issued with thatbalance), optionally after deducting a fee for the service.

The card itself may be denominated in multiple currencies. The value ofthe card may be fixed (i.e. “this card is worth $100 “dollar units”,each worth $1 US dollar or $1 Canadian Dollar, and the “dollar units”are reduced by one for each US or Canadian dollar spent). Upon issuance,the card issuer uses a computer program to retrieve the then-currentfutures on US/Canadian dollar trades, and executes a computerizedpurchase of a hedge position to reduce the risk of currency fluctuation.The type and amount of hedge position is calculated based on past carduse either by this consumer (as, for example, determined by pastexperience) or by consumers with similar demographics or consumersgenerally.

In a some embodiments, the multiple currencies may consist of at leastone government-backed currency, such as the U.S. Dollar, and at leastone virtual currency or other virtual right. So for example, Red mightbe given a card worth $100 United States Dollars or 100 VirtualFinancial Units (“VFUs”). In this example, the VFUs might be 1,000Utherverse Rays or 1,000 Linden Dollars (or whatever amount thethen-prevailing exchange rate dictates). The terms of the card purchaseare such that the contract provides the purchase is buying virtualcurrency only, but with a fixed conversion right that lasts a set amountof time, for example one year. At the end of the conversion rightperiod, the balance of the card is automatically converted into the VFUs(either at a fixed rate or based on the then-prevailing exchange rate).It is important to note that VFUs can also take the form of affinitypoints, such as AAdvantage Airlines miles, HHonors hotel points, or anyother non-monetary coupon unit. VFUs can also take the form ofstore-bound or merchant-bound value, so that at the end of a year thecard converts to a store credit at the issuing store only, or certainrights within the issuing store (for example, a Blockbuster card thatconverts each remaining $5 to the right to rent one movie for 3 days).

In some embodiments, the user links the card to the issuer of the VFUseither upon purchase or shortly thereafter. In this way, if the userforgets to utilize the card, no further action is required on their partto have the card automatically convert into the VFUs and credit to theuser's account. A less desirable implementation may require the user tomanually enter the VFUs using the card after expiration.

It is important to understand that while the card may be designed tosimultaneously carry more than one independent funding value (i.e. it isworth BOTH $50 United States Dollars and 500 VFUs, and they are spentindependently), the preferred implementation is to have the carddenominated in multiple currencies or values, but to have the valuestransparently interchanged upon use. Thus, for example, United Airlinesmight issue pre-paid Visa Cards charged with $500 United States dollarsand 10 “Red Carpet Club” visits (where the visits are the VFUs). If theuser visits a Red Carpet Club, the card is charged 1 “Red Carpet Club”visit, and the dollar value and remaining visits are both reduced, to$450 and to 9 visits respectively. Similarly, if a user obtains aprepaid visa card with $100 and 1,000 VFU “Rays” virtual currency units,the user may want to purchase a virtual hotel room with the “VirtualVancouver” game for 100 Rays. The card balance would then be reduced by100 VFUs to 900 VFUs, and simultaneously the dollar value reduced by thevalue of 100 VFUs, which is a 10:1 ratio, or $10. Although it may makeit difficult to understand the current value of the card, use of afloating, rather than fixed, exchange rate is possible. In a preferredimplementation, the card may be configured to display the currentbalance in both currencies (or more than 2 currencies if applicable) ispossible. For example, the card itself may contain a window showing thecurrent value in dollars and VFUs, and as the exchange rate changes, itmay obtain new exchange rates wirelessly, when used to make a charge, orwhen connected to a computer or similar device. The “card” may actuallytake the form of an application running on a mobile device or computer,and in that manner be continually updated.

In one implementation, the card is recharged automatically when a userobtains additional VFUs. For example, if tied to a frequent flierprogram, when a user flies, their news frequent flier balance isreflected in the card balance. The dollar value of those new VFUs may bespent simply by utilizing the card. Similarly, virtual world actions mayearn VFUs that can be reflected on the card.

It is important to understand that the term “card” is utilized forconvenience. No physical card is required, and this invention can beimplemented using a password/user name system, a printed paper system, acoded chip, biometrics, or generally any manner of uniquely identifyingan individual or instrument.

By allowing card issuers to take outstanding balances off of their booksat a fixed time, issuers obtain substantial benefits from theseinventions. At the same time, consumers avoid the problems of expressforfeiture (through fees and expiration) as well as the problems offorfeiture through forgetfulness.

In view of exemplary systems shown and described herein, methodologiesthat may be implemented in accordance with the disclosed subject matter,will be better appreciated with reference to various flow charts. While,for purposes of simplicity of explanation, methodologies are shown anddescribed as a series of acts/operations, it is to be understood andappreciated that the claimed subject matter is not limited by the numberor order of operations, as some operations may occur in different ordersand/or at substantially the same time with other operations from what isdepicted and described herein. Moreover, not all illustrated operationsmay be required to implement methodologies described herein. It is to beappreciated that functionality associated with operations may beimplemented by software, hardware, a combination thereof or any othersuitable means (e.g., device, system, process, or component).Additionally, it should be further appreciated that methodologiesdisclosed throughout this specification are capable of being stored asencoded instructions and/or data on an article of manufacture tofacilitate transporting and transferring such methodologies to variousdevices. Those skilled in the art will understand and appreciate that amethod could alternatively be represented as a series of interrelatedstates or events, such as in a state diagram.

Consistent with the foregoing, FIG. 1 is a flow chart showing an exampleof a method 100 for conditionally exhausting a debit balance. Method 100may comprise registering 102 an identifier for a debit accountcontrolled by a third-party issuer and having an authorized user, and anassociated future date in a database, using at least one computer, forexample using a third-party service provider server 312 as mentionedabove (FIG. 3). A user issued a debit card or similar instrument linkedto a debit account may log on to the server via any suitable client, andinput information for registering the card, via a network connection.The user may specify herself or any other person as the authorized user.The registering server may store the entered information using anysuitable computer memory device. The future date may be any date priorto the expiration date of the account, on which the user desires todeplete the remaining balance of the account.

Method 100 may further comprise automatically monitoring 104 a currentdate, using at least one computer, to determine when the future dateequals the current date or when the current date is not earlier than thefuture date. In response to determining that the future date equals thecurrent date or that the current date is not earlier than the futuredate—i.e., on or after the designated future date—method 100 may furthercomprise automatically charging 106 the account using at least onecharge transaction automatically charging the account using at least onecharge transaction in a series of charges calculated to substantiallyexhaust an unknown remaining balance amount. Various details forcharging are explained hereinabove and below. For example, as furtherexplained above, the server may implement the charge transaction as asequence of charges for diminishing amounts.

For further example, the server may calculate an initial one of theseries of charges based on an initial balance of the debit accountreported by the user in conjunction with registering the identifier; forexample some selected fraction of the initial balance. Automaticallycharging the account may further comprise calculating one or morecharges in the series of charges based at least in past on whether ornot any preceding one of the series of charges is accepted by thethird-party issuer. For example, a charge amount may be reduced by afirst predetermined amount or fraction in response to refusal of theimmediately preceding charge amount, and reduced, held constant, orincreased by a second predetermined amount in response to acceptance ofthe immediately preceding charge amount. Accordingly, automaticallycharging the account may further comprise calculating one or morecharges in the series of charges based at least in part on an amount ofany preceding one of the series of charges. For example, automaticallycharging the account may further comprise continuing the automaticallycharging using generally diminishing charge amounts until a chargeamount not greater than a smallest applicable monetary unit (forexample, one cent) is refused by the third-party issuer.

Finally, in response to automatically charging the account for theremaining balance amount, the server may initiate 108 a paymenttransaction for an amount computed using a cumulative sum ofsuccessfully completed charges performed as part of the step ofautomatically charging the account, according to payment instructionsreceived from the authorized user. For example, the server may pay thesum amount of a series of charges successfully completed, less a servicecharge and/or transaction fee. For further example, the server mayinitiate the payment transaction for a non-monetary coupon amountrestricted for use in a specified online environment, e.g., a VRUvirtual currency payment.

FIG. 2 is a flow chart showing an example of a method 200 for managing adebit balance in an account. Method 200 may comprise creating 202 anaccount record in a computer memory device on a first date, using atleast one computer, wherein the account record defines a debit balanceexpressed in a monetary currency unit. For example, a debit card server308 may initialize an account in response to transaction informationfrom a merchant point-of-sale terminal 302 (FIG. 3). The server mayfurther perform maintaining a record 204 of a defined exchange ratebetween the monetary currency unit and a corresponding non-monetarycoupon unit in a computer memory device. This may be a fixed or floatingexchange rate.

Method 200 may further comprise using at least one computer (e.g.,account server 308) responsive to current value of the defined exchangerate to maintain 206 a debit balance in the account record responsive tomonetary currency transactions and to non-monetary coupon transactions,until a predetermined second date falling after the first date. Forexample, the account server 308 may respond to transactions from either,or both, of the vendor server 306 (transacting in the currency) and theVRU server 310 (transacting in the coupon units). The server 308 mayservice transactions using the account until the predetermined seconddate. However, if the account balance is completely depleted prior tothe second date, the account may be closed and the method terminated atthat time.

If the account is not depleted (i.e., zero balance) prior to the seconddate, then beginning on the second date, the server may thereaftermaintain 208 a debit balance in the account record responsive only tonon-monetary coupon transactions and not to monetary currencytransactions. The server may refuse use of the payment account for anymonetary currency transaction, beginning on the second date. The servermay maintain a fixed value for the exchange rate beginning on the seconddate, whether or not the exchange rate was permitted to float prior tothe second date. Optionally, the server may convert the debit balancefrom the monetary currency unit to the non-monetary coupon unit usingthe exchange rate on the second date, and thereafter maintain theaccount record expressed only in the non-monetary coupon unit. Eitherway, after the second date the debit account has no cash value per sefor money, and is only redeemable for items that can be exchanged forthe non-monetary coupons, for example, virtual items in an on-line VRU.

FIG. 3 as referenced above is a block diagram showing elements of asystem 300 that may be used to implement either or both of methods 100and 200, and similar methods based on the disclosure herein. The system300 may comprise a debit card management server 308, which may performthe account management operations as described herein. The debit cardmanagement server may communicate with one or more vendor servers 306,wherein this example the vendor server 305 generally represents one ormore servers used by a third-party issuer of the debit account toauthorize charges to the debit account. A user of a debit card 304 orthe like may use one or more merchant terminals 302 to initiate normalcharges against the debit card balance. The merchant terminals 302communicate with the vendor server 306, which debits the account balancefor the card 304 in response to a successfully completed chargetransaction at the terminal 302. The system 300 may further include aVirtual Reality Universe (VRU) server 310 in communication with thedebit card server 308, and a registration server 312 handing initialregistration of the debit card 302 for date-driven balance management.The functions of the debit card server 308, VRU server 310 andregistration server 312 may be consolidated in, or distributed among,any desired non-zero number of computer servers or the like. The debitcard server 308 may communicate with one or more client terminals 314,which may comprise, for example, a personal computer, laptop computer,notebook computer, notepad computer, smart phone, or the like.Communications between components of the system 300 may be accomplishedvia any suitable wired or wireless network, or any suitable combinationof such networks; for example, using an Internet Protocol (IP) Wide AreaNetwork (WAN).

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing elements of a registration accountrecord 400 and associated records as may be used by a registrationserver in method 100, or similar methods. The registration accountrecord 400 may comprise an account identifier 402 for the associateddebit account. This account may be used, for example, for charging thedebit account according to an applicable merchant agreement, while thedebit account itself remains under the control of a third-party issuer.The registration account record 400 may further comprise an initialbalance value 404 as reported by the user during registration.Typically, the initial balance value 404 is not available from the thirdparty issue; and generally, the current balance value is not availablefrom the third-party issuer. The registration account record 400 mayfurther comprise a termination date value 406, sometime referred toherein as a “future date.” This is the future date, typically severalmonths up to several years after initial registration, at which the userdesires to implement the balance exhaustion procedure as describedherein. However, the present technology does not preclude the user fromselecting a termination date immediately after registration, for exampleto quickly cash out a debit card without any intervening period of use.The registration account record 400 may further comprise useridentification records 408, for example a user name, mailing address,email address, phone number, and so forth. The registration record 400may include or be associated with termination instructions 410, whichspecify the actions to be taken by a balance exhaustion server on thetermination date. These instructions may include, for example, a paymentaccount for receiving any proceeds resulting from a balance exhaustionprocedure.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing elements of a debit account record 500and associated records as may be used by a debit account server inmethod 200 or in similar methods. The debit account record 500 maycomprise an account identifier 502 for a debit account, and a currentbalance amount 504 of the debit account. The debit account itself may beunder control of another entity, but at minimum the current accountbalance should be accessible. The debit account record 500 may furthercomprise a designated currently unit 506 for maintaining the currentbalance 504, and at least one VRU coupon or “virtual currency” unit 508for implementing the described currency conversion feature. The debitaccount record 500 may further comprise user identifier data 510 similarto that described for the registration account record 400, and aconversion date 512 for implementing the described currency conversionoperations. The debit account record 500 may include, or be associatedwith, fluctuating exchange rate data 514 relating a current exchangerate between the currency unit and one or more VRU coupon units. Thedebit account record 500 may include or be associated with terminationinstructions 516, which specify the actions to be taken by a currencyconversion server on the termination date. These instructions mayinclude, for example, a VRU coupon account for receiving any proceedsresulting from a currency conversion procedure.

With reference to FIG. 6, there is provided an exemplary apparatus 600that may be configured as a server in a computer network, or as aprocessor or similar device for use within the server entity, forinteracting with one or more client devices and with commercialtransaction servers for a debit card. The apparatus 600 may includefunctional blocks that can represent functions implemented by aprocessor, software, or combination thereof (e.g., firmware).

As illustrated, in one embodiment, the apparatus 600 may include anelectrical component or module 602 for registering an identifier for adebit account controlled by a third-party issuer and having anauthorized user, and an associated future termination date in adatabase. For example, the electrical component 602 may include at leastone control processor coupled to a user interface for receiving userdata and to a memory with instructions for registering the mentionedinformation. The apparatus 600 may include an electrical component 604for automatically monitoring a current date to determine when thecurrent date is not earlier than the future termination date; e.g., whenthe current date is equal to the termination date. For example, theelectrical component 604 may include at least one control processorcoupled to an electronic calendar and to a memory holding instructionsfor triggering another module based on the calendar date. The apparatus600 may include an electrical component 604 for, in response todetermining that the current date is not earlier than the future date,automatically charging the account using at least one charge transactionin a series of charges calculated to substantially exhaust an unknownremaining balance amount. For example, the electrical component 604 mayinclude at least one control processor coupled to an algorithm forcalculating a charge series and to a memory holding instructions formaking and recording chares against a debit account held by a thirdparty. The apparatus 600 may include similar electrical components forperforming any or all of the additional operations described inconnection with FIG. 2, which for illustrative simplicity are not shownin FIG. 6.

In related aspects, the apparatus 600 may optionally include a processorcomponent 610 having at least one processor, in the case of theapparatus 600 configured as a server. The processor 610, in such case,may be in operative communication with the components 602-606 or similarcomponents via a bus 612 or similar communication coupling. Theprocessor 610 may effect initiation and scheduling of the processes orfunctions performed by electrical components 602-606.

In further related aspects, the apparatus 600 may include a networkinterface component 614. The apparatus 600 may optionally include acomponent for storing information, such as, for example, a memorydevice/component 616. The computer readable medium or the memorycomponent 616 may be operatively coupled to the other components of theapparatus 600 via the bus 612 or the like. The memory component 616 maybe adapted to store computer readable instructions and data forperforming the activity of the components 602-606, and subcomponentsthereof, or the processor 610, or the methods disclosed herein. Thememory component 616 may retain instructions for executing functionsassociated with the components 602-606. While shown as being external tothe memory 616, it is to be understood that the components 602-606 canexist within the memory 616.

With reference to FIG. 7, there is provided an exemplary apparatus 700that may be configured as a server in a computer network, or as aprocessor or similar device for use within the server entity, forinteracting with one or more client devices and with commercialtransaction servers for a debit card. The apparatus 700 may includefunctional blocks that can represent functions implemented by aprocessor, software, or combination thereof (e.g., firmware).

As illustrated, in one embodiment, the apparatus 700 may include anelectrical component or module 702 for creating an account record in acomputer memory device on a first date, wherein the account recorddefines an initial debit balance expressed in a monetary currency unitfor a debit account. For example, the electrical component 702 mayinclude at least one control processor coupled to a user interface orthe like and to a memory with instructions for registering the mentioneddata in response to user input. The apparatus 700 may include anelectrical component 704 for maintaining a record of a defined exchangerate between the monetary currency unit and a corresponding non-monetarycoupon unit in a computer memory device. For example, the electricalcomponent 704 may include at least one control processor coupled to anetwork interface or the like and to a memory holding instructions forcommunicating with one or more external sources to update an exchangerate. The apparatus 700 may include an electrical component 706responsive to current value of the defined exchange rate, formaintaining a debit balance in the account record responsive to monetarycurrency transactions and to non-monetary coupon transactions, until apredetermined second date falling after the first date. For example, theelectrical component 706 may include at least one control processorcoupled to a network interface or the like and to a memory holdinginstructions for communicating with one or more commerce servers andclients to update a balance in response to completed transactions. Theapparatus 700 may include an electrical component 708 for, beginning onthe second date, maintaining a debit balance in the account recordresponsive only to non-monetary coupon transactions and not to monetarycurrency transactions. For example, the electrical component 708 mayinclude at least one control processor coupled to a network interface orthe like and to a memory holding instructions for maintaining the debitbalance solely in response to transactions using the non-monetarycoupon. The apparatus 700 may include similar electrical components forperforming any or all of the additional described in connection withFIG. 3, which for illustrative simplicity are not shown in FIG. 7.

In related aspects, the apparatus 700 may optionally include a processorcomponent 710 having at least one processor, in the case of theapparatus 700 configured as a server. The processor 710, in such case,may be in operative communication with the components 702-708 or similarcomponents via a bus 712 or similar communication coupling. Theprocessor 710 may effect initiation and scheduling of the processes orfunctions performed by electrical components 702-708.

In further related aspects, the apparatus 700 may include a networkinterface component 714. The apparatus 700 may optionally include acomponent for storing information, such as, for example, a memorydevice/component 716. The computer readable medium or the memorycomponent 716 may be operatively coupled to the other components of theapparatus 700 via the bus 712 or the like. The memory component 716 maybe adapted to store computer readable instructions and data forperforming the activity of the components 702-708, and subcomponentsthereof, or the processor 710, or the methods disclosed herein. Thememory component 716 may retain instructions for executing functionsassociated with the components 702-708. While shown as being external tothe memory 716, it is to be understood that the components 702-708 canexist within the memory 716.

Those of skill in the art would understand that information and signalsmay be represented using any of a variety of different technologies andtechniques. For example, data, instructions, commands, information,signals, bits, symbols, and chips that may be referenced throughout theabove description may be represented by voltages, currents,electromagnetic waves, magnetic fields or particles, optical fields orparticles, or any combination thereof.

Those of skill would further appreciate that the various illustrativelogical blocks, modules, circuits, and algorithm steps described inconnection with the disclosure herein may be implemented as electronichardware, computer software, or combinations of both. To clearlyillustrate this interchangeability of hardware and software, variousillustrative components, blocks, modules, circuits, and steps have beendescribed above generally in terms of their functionality. Whether suchfunctionality is implemented as hardware or software depends upon theparticular application and design constraints imposed on the overallsystem. Skilled artisans may implement the described functionality invarying ways for each particular application, but such implementationdecisions should not be interpreted as causing a departure from thescope of the present disclosure.

The various illustrative logical blocks, modules, and circuits describedin connection with the disclosure herein may be implemented or performedwith a general-purpose processor, a digital signal processor (DSP), anapplication specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field programmablegate array (FPGA) or other programmable logic device, discrete gate ortransistor logic, discrete hardware components, or any combinationthereof designed to perform the functions described herein. Ageneral-purpose processor may be a microprocessor, but in thealternative, the processor may be any conventional processor,controller, microcontroller, or state machine. A processor may also beimplemented as a combination of computing devices, e.g., a combinationof a DSP and a microprocessor, a plurality of microprocessors, one ormore microprocessors in conjunction with a DSP core, or any other suchconfiguration.

The steps of a method or algorithm described in connection with thedisclosure herein may be embodied directly in hardware, in a softwaremodule executed by a processor, or in a combination of the two. Asoftware module may reside in RAM memory, flash memory, ROM memory,EPROM memory, EEPROM memory, registers, hard disk, a removable disk, aCD-ROM, or any other form of storage medium known in the art. Anexemplary storage medium is coupled to the processor such that theprocessor can read information from, and write information to, thestorage medium. In the alternative, the storage medium may be integralto the processor. The processor and the storage medium may reside in anASIC. The ASIC may reside in a user terminal. In the alternative, theprocessor and the storage medium may reside as discrete components in auser terminal.

In one or more exemplary designs, the functions described may beimplemented in hardware, software, firmware, or any combination thereof.If implemented in software, the functions may be stored on ortransmitted over as one or more instructions or code on acomputer-readable medium. Computer-readable media includes both computerstorage media and communication media including any medium thatfacilitates transfer of a computer program from one place to another. Astorage media may be any available media that can be accessed by ageneral purpose or special purpose computer. By way of example, and notlimitation, such computer-readable media can comprise RAM, ROM, EEPROM,CD-ROM or other optical disk storage, magnetic disk storage or othermagnetic storage devices, or any other medium that can be used to carryor store desired program code means in the form of instructions or datastructures and that can be accessed by a general-purpose orspecial-purpose computer, or a general-purpose or special-purposeprocessor. Also, any connection may be properly termed, or include, acomputer-readable medium if involving non-transient data storage. Forexample, if the software is transmitted from a website, server, or otherremote source using a coaxial cable, fiber optic cable, twisted pair,digital subscriber line (DSL), or wireless technologies such asinfrared, radio, and microwave, then the coaxial cable, fiber opticcable, twisted pair, DSL, or wireless technologies such as infrared,radio, and microwave are included in the definition of medium, to theextent the signal is retained in the transmission chain on a storagemedium or device memory for any non-transient length of time. Disk anddisc, as used herein, includes compact disc (CD), laser disc, opticaldisc, digital versatile disc (DVD), floppy disk and blu-ray disc wheredisks usually reproduce data magnetically, while discs reproduce dataoptically with lasers. Combinations of the above should also be includedwithin the scope of computer-readable media.

The previous description of the disclosure is provided to enable anyperson skilled in the art to make or use the disclosure. Variousmodifications to the disclosure will be readily apparent to thoseskilled in the art, and the generic principles defined herein may beapplied to other variations without departing from the spirit or scopeof the disclosure. Thus, the disclosure is not intended to be limited tothe examples and designs described herein but is to be accorded thewidest scope consistent with the principles and novel features disclosedherein.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for managing a debit balance in apayment account, comprising: creating an account record in a computermemory device on a first date, using at least one computer, wherein theaccount record defines a debit balance expressed in a monetary currencyunit; maintaining a record of a defined exchange rate between themonetary currency unit and a corresponding non-monetary coupon unit in acomputer memory device, using at least one computer; using at least onecomputer responsive to current value of the defined exchange rate tomaintain a debit balance in the account record responsive to monetarycurrency transactions and to non-monetary coupon transactions, until apredetermined second date falling after the first date; and beginning onthe second date, using at least one computer to maintain a debit balancein the account record responsive only to non-monetary coupontransactions and not to monetary currency transactions.
 2. The method ofclaim 1, further comprising refusing use of the payment account for anymonetary currency transaction, beginning on the second date.
 3. Themethod of claim 1, wherein maintaining a record of a defined exchangerate comprises maintaining a fixed value for the exchange rate beginningon the second date.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein maintaining arecord of a defined exchange rate comprises maintaining a fixed valuefor the exchange rate beginning on the first date.
 5. The method ofclaim 1, further comprising converting the debit balance from themonetary currency unit to the non-monetary coupon unit using theexchange rate on the second date, and thereafter maintaining the accountrecord expressed only in the non-monetary coupon unit.
 6. An apparatuscomprising a processor operably coupled to a memory, the memory holdingprogram instructions, that when executed by the processor, cause theapparatus to perform the operations of: creating an account record in acomputer memory device on a first date, using at least one computer,wherein the account record defines a debit balance expressed in amonetary currency unit; maintaining a record of a defined exchange ratebetween the monetary currency unit and a corresponding non-monetarycoupon unit in a computer memory device, using at least one computer;using at least one computer responsive to current value of the definedexchange rate to maintain a debit balance in the account recordresponsive to monetary currency transactions and to non-monetary coupontransactions, until a predetermined second date falling after the firstdate; and beginning on the second date, using at least one computer tomaintain a debit balance in the account record responsive only tonon-monetary coupon transactions and not to monetary currencytransactions.
 7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the processor holdsfurther instructions for refusing use of the payment account for anymonetary currency transaction, beginning on the second date.
 8. Theapparatus of claim 6, wherein the processor holds further instructionsfor maintaining a record of a defined exchange rate by maintaining afixed value for the exchange rate beginning on the second date.
 9. Theapparatus of claim 6, wherein the processor holds further instructionsfor maintaining a record of a defined exchange rate by maintaining afixed value for the exchange rate beginning on the first date.
 10. Theapparatus of claim 6, wherein the processor holds further instructionsfor converting the debit balance from the monetary currency unit to thenon-monetary coupon unit using the exchange rate on the second date, andthereafter maintaining the account record expressed only in thenon-monetary coupon unit.
 11. A non-transitory computer-readable mediumholding program instructions, that when executed by the processor, causea computer to perform the operations of: creating an account record in acomputer memory device on a first date, using at least one computer,wherein the account record defines a debit balance expressed in amonetary currency unit; maintaining a record of a defined exchange ratebetween the monetary currency unit and a corresponding non-monetarycoupon unit in a computer memory device, using at least one computer;using at least one computer responsive to current value of the definedexchange rate to maintain a debit balance in the account recordresponsive to monetary currency transactions and to non-monetary coupontransactions, until a predetermined second date falling after the firstdate; and beginning on the second date, using at least one computer tomaintain a debit balance in the account record responsive only tonon-monetary coupon transactions and not to monetary currencytransactions.
 12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein thecomputer-readable medium holds further instructions for refusing use ofthe payment account for any monetary currency transaction, beginning onthe second date.
 13. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein thecomputer-readable medium holds further instructions for maintaining arecord of a defined exchange rate by maintaining a fixed value for theexchange rate beginning on the second date.
 14. The apparatus of claim11, wherein the computer-readable medium holds further instructions formaintaining a record of a defined exchange rate by maintaining a fixedvalue for the exchange rate beginning on the first date.
 15. Theapparatus of claim 11, wherein the computer-readable medium holdsfurther instructions for converting the debit balance from the monetarycurrency unit to the non-monetary coupon unit using the exchange rate onthe second date, and thereafter maintaining the account record expressedonly in the non-monetary coupon unit.